Better Call Saul: Bob Odenkirk’s 10 Best Other Recurring Roles, According To IMDb

Bob Odenkirk is a prodigious and studious writer, comedian, and actor who made a name for himself both behind and in front of the screen. While his most iconic role is his portrayal of Saul Goodman on Breaking Bad and then its spin-off Better Call Saul, he spent most of his career beforehand working on and starring in various sketch shows and comedies.

Odenkirk has guest-starred in numerous shows. This list, however, brings together his recurring television and movie roles outside of Vince Gilligan’s Breaking Bad universe. From crime dramas to cerebral comedies, Bob Odenkirk does it all.

10 Stanislavsky Teacher In The Disaster Artist (2017) – 7.4

While technically a bit part, Odenkirk gives a short, but memorable, performance in this James Franco film about Tommy Wiseau, the elusive director of the 2003 film The Room. Franco also plays Wiseau, an aspiring actor who is constantly rejected by teachers and agents until he decided to make his own movie, which turned out to be so bad it developed its own cult following.

Odenkirk portrays one of Tommy’s unimpressed acting teachers, this one in particular trained in the Stanislavski method. Needless to say, he has nothing say to say to Tommy.

9 Various Roles In Comedy Bang! Bang! (2012 – 2016) – 7.5

Based on a popular podcast, Comedy Bang! Bang! is the brainchild of Scott Aukerman. Framed like a talk show, it is actually a sketch comedy show that highlights deadpan humor. Aukerman hosts alongside a band, whose bandleader position was first held by Reggie Watts, then Kid Cudi, and finally Weird Al Yankovic.

Odenkirk appeared in 6 episodes during the show’s 4-year run. Odenkirk works on and appears in many sketch comedies, making Comedy Bang! Bang! is a perfect fit for him.

8 Various Roles In Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (2007–2017) – 7.5

This beloved Adult Swim late-night show comes from the nightmares of comedians Tim Heidecker and Eric Wareheim. Inspired by infomercials and public access television, the pair established a weird niche for themselves in comedy.

During its run, Odenkirk was one of the show’s writers and actors, featured in multiple skits and fake commercials. The image above is from a commercial for one of the many fictional toys created in the Tim and Eric universe: B’Owl. Odenkirk also served as a creative consultant, and his influence is apparent throughout the show.

7 Ross Grant In Nebraska (2013) – 7.7

Alexander Payne’s award-winning black-and-white feature has quite a cast. In addition to Odenkirk, it also stars Bruce Dern, Will Forte, and June Squibb.  Dern plays an elderly man named Woody living in Billings, Montana, who is found walking on the side of the interstate by a police officer. When his son, David, intervenes, he discovers his father is headed to Lincoln, Nebraska. He wants to collect a million-dollar sweepstakes prize.

When David reads the prize letter, he realizes it’s a scam. Still, he gives in to his father’s desire and decides to drive him to Nebraska. Odenkirk plays Woody’s oldest child and David’s brother Ross, a local news anchor.

6 Father March In Little Women (2019) – 8.0

Greta Gerwig won praise for her 2019 adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s coming-of-age novel Little Women, which focuses on four sisters living in Massachusetts in the mid-1800s. The film’s younger actors, including Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, and Timothee Chalamet, are paired with the film’s older actors, such as Meryl Streep, Laura Dern, and Odenkirk.

Odenkirk plays the girls’ father, Mr. March. Despite being a box office and critical success, the movie was snubbed during the 2020 awards season.

5 Various Roles In Mr. Show with Bob and David (1995–1998) – 8.3

Odenkirk and his comedic compatriot David Cross made a space for themselves in sketch comedy history with the HBO series Mr. Show. The show is a mash-up of alternative comedy, featuring live-audience routines and pre-recorded sketches. While it aired, Mr. Show tapped into the ’90s counterculture, and it still remains a cult series.

The series also helped comedians like Sarah Silverman, Paul F. Tompkins, and Jack Black make names for themselves as actors.

4 Jacob Winograd In Undone (2019 – ) – 8.3

Odenkirk acts in and serves as producer of this Amazon Prime series starring Rosa Salazar. Considered Amazon’s first animated series, Undone employs rotoscoping, which involves tracing over real movie footage.

Salazar plays Alma, a young woman who, after experiencing a near-fatal car accident, finds herself capable of moving beyond the preconceived limits of time. Odenkirk plays her late father, Jacob, who Alma reconnects with after her accident. He asks her to help solve his murder, and the show takes wild and crazy twists from there.

3 Arthur Hobbs In How I Met Your Mother (2005 – 2014) – 8.3

Odenkirk is featured in 8 episodes of the popular sitcom How I Met Your Mother between Seasons 5  and 8. He plays Arthur Hobbs, a top attorney at Goliath National Bank who is above Barney and Marshall.

Once he comes boss at GNB, Arthur is a constant source of stress for Marshall, who is concerned his overbearing and militaristic superior will fire him at any moment. Odenkirk plays up this tense, fraught relationship with his well-documented ability to theatrically freak out on queue.

2 Ken Austin In Entourage (2004 – 2011) – 8.4

Odenkirk plays Mark Cuban’s business partner in the last three episodes of Entourage‘s 7th season. In the show, when Cuban is considering whether or not to invest in Turtle’s tequila company, Odenkirk’s character rides along to provide a different perspective and a voice of reason.

Even though it was just a short recurring role, Odenkin’s performance garnered a lot of attention.

1 Bill Oswalt In Fargo (2014 – ) – 8.9

Odenkirk is part of the ensemble cast that makes up the first season of FX’s anthology series inspired by the Coen brothers film. He plays a police officer in Bemidji, Minnesota, who is promoted to Chief of Office after his boss Vern is killed amidst a string of violence.

Oswalt is by-the-books and has little trust in his colleague Molly Solverston’s hunches as she tries to track down Lorne Malvo and Lester Nygaard. Oswalt comes across as an old-timey, antiquated cop who is out of touch with the violence and mayhem being perpetrated in his community.

About The Author